Bring Back the Greek Gods
Zeus |
Zeus |
Zeus |
Apollo |
Athena |
Dionysus |
Aphrodite |
Aphrodite |
Aphrodite |
By Mary Lefkowitz
Edited by Andy Ross
The polytheistic
Greeks did not advocate killing those who worshiped different gods,
and they did not pretend that their religion provided the right
answers.
Openness to discussion and inquiry is a
distinguishing feature of Greek theology. It suggests that
collective decisions often lead to a better outcome. Respect for a
diversity of viewpoints informs the cooperative system of government
the Athenians called democracy.
The Greeks and Romans did not
share the narrow view of the ancient Hebrews that a divinity could
only be masculine. Like many other ancient peoples in the eastern
Mediterranean, the Greeks recognized female divinities.
The
world, as the Greek philosopher Thales wrote, is full of gods, and
all deserve respect and honor. Such a generous understanding of the
nature of divinity allowed the ancient Greeks and Romans to accept
and respect other people's gods. What they did not approve of was
atheism.
The existence of many different gods also offers a
more plausible account than monotheism of the presence of evil and
confusion in the world. As the Greeks saw it, the gods made life
hard for humans, didn't seek to improve the human condition and
allowed people to suffer and die.
Mortals were free to
speculate about the character and intentions of the gods. By
allowing mortals to ask hard questions, Greek theology encouraged
them to learn, to seek all the possible causes of events. Philosophy
had its roots in such theological inquiry. As did science.
Ancient Greek religion gives an account of the world that in many
respects is more plausible than that offered by the monotheistic
traditions. |
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Walhalla am Donau
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